December 31, 2009

Arkansas Man Gets 15 Years in Prison for HIV Felony

An 18-year-old Arkansas man born with HIV plead guilty December 21 to five counts of exposing another person to HIV, a class A felony in the state, NWAonline.com reports.  

According to 4029tv.com, Christopher Gray was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was arrested in April after police learned of the allegations from one of the women involved.  

Court documents state that Gray told authorities he is HIV positive and had unprotected sex with the woman.  

Prosecutors said none of the women involved tested positive for the virus.

Search: Arkansas, criminalization

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Previous Comments:

Kate, Pine Bluff, AR, 2010-01-27 14:00:49
Tp Blaine in Dallas -I beg to differ with you. THere are also white inmate that are doing time in Arkansas for the very same thing so know your facts before you insert your foot. Not only males but females as well.

george kraft, brooklyn ny, 2010-01-19 17:24:11
Lets get real.Almost nobody wants to0 disclose because you can forget about dating anyone whos not positive.Once you disclose its over. Period.Practicing safe sex should be sufficient. Period.All this debate just worsens the stigma that allready exists.How about educating people to protect themselves .Period. If someone who knows there status refuses to use a condom then you prosecute.Period.Lets stop all the bullshit and get real. Jailing everyone who doesnt disclose isnt going to do anything.

Andrew, , 2010-01-12 13:12:15
Of course disclosure is mandatory. It is the moral, ethical and legal thing to do. Just call me Captain Obvious. But there are clearly some problems with laws such as these. How do you prove that there was no disclosure? Someone making a allegation is not proof. I see a moral hazard here. If someone is incarcerated for 15 years for allegedly not disclosing his/her status, why on earth would someone want to get tested. It seems to me the application of this law abets infection not deters.

Iamstone, Mulberry AR., 2010-01-06 08:20:53
I am familier with this case. 40/29 was the only TV network that broadcasted the case.It was really no more then a blip on the news.A few years ago a Lawyer from Little Rock was sentenced to 30 years for infecting 3 women.There have been many cases over the years since I moved here about people infected or putting others in danger because they refuse to disclose their status.I personally have no problem telling someone. I think he got what he deserved.You just dont put people at risk.

Contactgordon, , 2010-01-05 16:55:28
I guess we should all start making any sexual partners protect or not sign a consent form saying they understand the risks.

Contactgordon, , 2010-01-05 16:53:59
While yes it's wrong to not disclose your status onyone ony the other end of unprotected sex is taking that risk. Look at the stats of how many people are infected and don't know. It takes two people to have sex and both should be held accounted for their actions because everyone know there are risks - I agree make unprotected sex illegal and then prosecute them both - this is just another case of how our system is screwed up.

Bill, Californian, 2010-01-05 16:31:25
This is total overkill. 1-2 yrs would suffice. Why not prosecute the women for not using protection?? Mabye our govt should make it a law that if you have sex you have to wear a condom. Exemptions based on a case by case basis. Even married people have sex unprotected. Will never get rid of HIV as long as people don't give a rat's arse about life and HIV which robs you of life. You're the living dead with HIV. My virus would kill somebody within a few months. I'm resistant to all meds!

Jenn, Weatherford, 2010-01-05 15:00:00
Ok as a woman who was infected by a man who actually lied when asked if he was poz. I think this is a wonderful law and had the man that infected me still been living when my results came back I'd have tried to press charges. Do I like that it increases stigma and hate towards Poz people no but I do like that to poz people it can make them think hmmm maybe I should be more honest with my partners. Not telling a partner or even lying to them is immoral not matter who the person is.

Frederick Wright, , 2010-01-03 13:06:15
These laws like HIV crimes or the one in the works in Uganda focusing on hate, fear and angry to the Gay and HIV positive person is most distastful as more HIV people become healthier and sexual again. On the other hand Marriage and the values of love are becoming more obtainable for both. I for one am focusing on one lover that brings me to a loving relationship and do not worry about HIV crimes and disclose when I choose too. I am sad that HIV crimilisation bring more hate foward to HIV poz

Kyle, Chicago, 2010-01-03 11:46:09
Well yes this young man happens to be an African American that was born with the virus, but it does not excuse him from his immoral and appalling behavior of knowingly spreading the disease. And it's not a racially divided issue whether one is Caucasian or Black or any other ethnicity we have responsibility to act human. And there are plenty of Caucasian men being found guilty of the same crime.

Blaine, Dallas, 2010-01-03 02:05:58
Just as I suspected upon searching the Internet...The kid is black! If this had been a white kid it would be a different story. The woman never contracted HIV! Only in good 'ol Arkansas!

CLSG, , 2010-01-01 13:36:12
I feel like a person that is living with this diease it is outrageous that he would do something like that to another human being. I wouldn't wish this diease on my worse enemy and and I really think that the judge went very easy on him. I thank God that the woman that he exposed to the diease was negative